Kinesin articles from across Nature Portfolio

Intracellular transport along microtubules involves runs, pauses and directional reversals. Here, D’Souza et al. mimic these dynamics in vitro using a minimal system of Dynein-Dynactin-BICD2 and Kinesin-3 on vesicles without the need for regulators.

RNA localization is mediated by kinesin motors and anchoring. However, mechanisms underlying specificity are unclear. Here, the authors find that MBNL protein’s zinc fingers prefer specific kinesins, and its unstructured tail mediates membrane anchoring.

Autoinhibition ensures the proper spatiotemporal control of the kinesin-3 motor activity. Here, the authors present the full-length structure of kinesin-3 KLP-6 in an autoinhibited state and observe that all the internal domains entwine around the motor domain via a multilevel-lockdown mechanism.

Homeostasis and function of neurons rely on long-distance, bidirectional microtubule-based transport along the axon, which is driven by both dynein and kinesin motors. How these motors are regulated by a plethora of adaptors and effectors to ensure appropriate and robust distribution of cargos is an area of intense study.

Here, authors solve cryo-EM structures of the central apparatus of motile cilia and analyze its dynamic conformations to elucidate the mechanism of ciliary beating.

Herpes simplex virus type I and pseudorabies virus assimilate kinesin from host epithelial cells and repurpose the motor to traffic to the nuclei of neurons in the peripheral nervous system.

Roop Mallik argues for the importance of considering the impact that membrane lipids have on motors, and the dynamics of the membrane–motor interface, in studies of cytoskeletal motors.

Assembly of the mitotic spindle requires timely separation of the centrosomes. Their movement apart is driven by the plus-end-directed kinesin Eg5. A new study demonstrates that the kinesin KIFC3 provides an opposing microtubule-based cohesive force that modulates centrosome separation and ensures accurate chromosome segregation.

The combination of topological constraints and deformability in an active system of microtubules and molecular motors leads to rich dynamic behaviour.

Mitosis depends upon the action of the mitotic spindle, a subcellular machine that uses microtubules (MTs) and motors to assemble itself and to coordinate chromosome segregation. Recent work illuminates how the motor-driven poleward sliding of MTs — nucleated at centrosomes, chromosomes and on pre-existing MTs — contributes to spindle assembly and length control.

The kinesin-4 motor protein Kif7 regulates Hedgehog signalling at cilia in mammals by controlling the activity of Gli transcription factors. Kif7 is now found to inhibit microtubule growth to restrict and coordinate the length of axonemal microtubules at the ciliary tip. Such Kif7-mediated organization of the ciliary tip compartment regulates Gli activity and is proposed to be required for correct Hedgehog signalling.

Two fungal Hook proteins are identified as recruiting motor proteins to early endosomes for microtubule-based transport.